Sign



Dec. 16, 1952 W. G. RERICKER SIG-N` `[-Iiled July 15, 1950 FIG. 3.

Patented Dec. 16, 1952 SIGN William G. Rericker, St. Louis, Mo .,lassignor to Grace Sign & Mfg. Co., St. Louis, l\io.,a `cnrporation of'Missouri Application July 15, 1950, Serial No. 173,982

This invention relates to signs, and more particularly, to a method of maintaining outdoor signs, such as highway markers, having sign panels of polygonal outline, and to a prefabricated sign facing for such sign panels.

Briefly, the invention comprises in part the method of maintaining outdoor signs having flat sign panels of regular polygonal outline wherein sign facings are prefabricated to have an outline generally corresponding to and greater than the outline of the sign panels and are alxed thereto as the panels become defaoed, the excess material at the periphery of each facing being folded over the edges of the sign panel to guard and protect same. The prefabricated sign facing is formed from relatively thin ductile sheet metal to have an outline of generally regular polygonal shape corresponding to and greater than that of the sign panel. The outline is not completely coextensive in the sense that the excess material at the periphery of the facing is adapted to be folded over the regular polygonal edges of the sign panel to cover and protect the edges. In this connection, small V-shaped notches are cut at the corners of the polygon of the facing to extend inwardly generally to points which will lie at the corners of the polygonal sign panel when the facing is attached to the panel. Other features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, steps and sequence of steps, features of construction and manipulation, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplied in the structures and methods hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claim.

In the accompanying drawing, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. l is a front elevation of the sign facing of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of a highway sign of regular octagonal outline showing the Fig. 1 facing attached to the sign; and,

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, parts being broken away.

The conventional highway sign for directing movement of traic generally comprises a flat sign panel of regular polygonal outline which is mounted upon a post. The sign panel is formed of relatively heavy stiff sheet metal adapted t withstand the abuses of weather, accidents and malfeasance. Maintenance of such signs has 1 claim. (o1. fio-125) hitherto been accomplished by Vhaving'the maindefaced panels encountered in making their rou- I tine inspections. The defaced panels are returned to a sign shop for repainting and repair, or are scrapped. Frequently the cost of y reconditioning such a defaced sign panel substantially approaches the cost of anewsign panel, hence many are scrapped. The expense results from the fact that `mass production technique'cannot be .used in the repair of the signs. Also, when it is necessary to change a warning sign, such as for example, 'a speed limit sign, each sign panel must be replaced. This invention has for its primary object, the reduction of cost in maintenance of such highway signs.

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated in Fig. 1 a flat sign facing I which is adapted to be affixed over a defaced sign panel. The facing is formed of a fiat sheet of ductile metal having an outline corresponding generally to and greater than that of a sign panel which it is to cover. Malleable aluminum is an ideal material because of its resistance to weather. The particular facing shown is of octagonal outline having eight straight margins 3 and notches 5 formed at the corners of the Octagon. The notches 5 are V- shaped with their apexes 'I extending inwardly to predetermined points. These apexes lie at the corners of a second octagon 9 which is coextensive with the outline of the sign panels. Suitable indicia is painted upon the facing. Also, a recess I I is formed in the edge of the facing at the center of one of the straight margins 3 (the bottom margin).

It is contemplated that the facings will be prefabricated using mass production technique so as to be relatively inexpensive. Highway maintenance crews will carry a number of the facings in their trucks. When the maintenance crew encounters a sign panel which has been defaced, one of the facings is aixed over the defaced sign panel.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, there is shown a portion of a conventional highway sign with the facing on this invention affixed thereto. The sign comprises a sign panel I3 of relatively heavy stiff sheet metal which is afxed to a metal post I5. Various means of attachment are used, for example the panel may be bolted to the post with or without suitable spacers. l

The facing I is aixed to the sign panel II by folding over the strips I'I of excess material between the notches 5 at the periphery of the facing. This operation is preferably performed by means of a special tool particularly adapted for this purpose, but it will be understood the folding can be done in any manner. The notches 5 permit the marginal strips l1 to be readily folded without buckling at the corners. Also, the facing is initially aligned over the sign panel with the marginal recess I i positioned opposite the post I5. Thus, no interference is oiered to the folding of the lower margin of the facing by the post.

It will be seen the sign is in effect renovated at a minimum expense. A new front surface has been applied to the sign in such manner as to also guard and protect the edges of the old sign, thereby preventing subsequent damage from Weather or the like. If desired, waterproof cement may be applied to the edges to prevent entry of moisture between the facing and the sign panel. The facing is relatively less expensive than-the new sign panel, since it may be formed of relatively thin material which is not required to withstand mechanical stresses placed upon the sign, these stresses being taken up by the panel part il which now forms a backing for the facing.

In View of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are -achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

In a renovated highway sign structure including a defaced at relatively heavy gage sign panel of regular polygonal outline aiiixed to a support; a sign facing of relatively light gage ilat ductile sheet metal covering the front face of the sign panel and having an outline generally corresponding to and greater than that of said panel, said facing having V-shaped notches at each of the corners with the apexes of the notches at the corners of a polygonal outline corresponding to that of the sign panel and marginal portions at each of the sides of said polygonal outline, said marginal portions folded back over substantially all the edges of the sign panel completely to cover and guard said panel edges and lying at against the back of said sign panel.

WILLIAM G. RERICKER..

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 663,892 Hansen Dec. 18, 1900 1,001,541 Matthews Aug. 22, 1911 2,078,221 Adams Apr. 27, 1937 2,167,564 Fonda July 25, 1939 2,272,322 Kiecker Feb. 10, 1942 

